These sermons are presented by Timothy Stidham. Dr. Stidham
is pastor of the New Hope Community Church of the Nazarene in Dyer, Indiana.
One of the best ways I’ve found to “listen” to
the text is to read it out loud in several translations. If you have Internet
access, www.biblegateway.com provides an easy way into several of the most
popular translations. The letters of Paul were originally read aloud to a
listening audience. This is a different experience from reading silently.
You might find things you didn’t see before! We are often so rushed to
find something for Sunday that we end up skimming over details. Reading aloud
disciplines us to notice every word and perhaps notice a play on words.
The Epistle texts for Epiphany are found in 1 and 2 Corinthians.
These two letters, or amalgamation of letters, give us insight into the Apostle
Paul’s views on the Church and on ministry itself. It is important to
remember the problematic nature of this important congregation. These people
are not a model of Paul’s grand vision for the church or of the Christian
life. Although amazing gems are found here, they are often given in the context
of a critique of the Church gone wrong and/or Christian living gone astray.
Yet, the errors covered in the Corinthian correspondence are actually quite
relevant to challenges faced in the contemporary church.
One can’t help but notice that some form of the word “body”
(soma) appears eight times in these few verses. Here Paul is tiptoeing through
the tulips of philosophical theology! It is clear he wants to avoid legalism,
prudishness, and any dualism that makes the body evil. It also seems Paul
is interacting with a few of the competing philosophies of the age that threatened
the nature of the gospel. Again, from a corrective starting point, Paul begins
to build a Christian theology of the body.
Paul begins with a practical interpretation of the dangers of
addiction and moves to a loftier image that the reader is to “honor God
with your body,” certainly a worthy goal for every Christian.
This passage is relevant to current congregations because so
many are tangled up in competing “theologies” of the body today.
Most feel defeated if they don’t look like a professional athlete or
supermodel. Others don’t know what to do with natural desires. North
American Christians live in an “Old Country Buffet” culture with
an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of physicality! You name the physical desire
and there are endless sources claiming to “satisfy” those desires.
Furthermore, we are bombarded with images, sounds, billboards, music, and
websites that make this stuff available 24/7/365. For every restless, undisciplined
moment, there are a thousand ways for our people to fall into sin and error.
Today we are more overweight and oversexed than ever! Still we are lonely
and hungry for something more.
Sometimes holiness gets a bad name and we think we can’t
preach on it because it’s not “relevant.” Hogwash! If our culture
needs anything, it is a biblical guideline for living well in spiritually
unhealthy times. It’s all in how we present it. Sure, you can try to
yell loudly, presenting an angry vision of holiness. You know, “scare
them straight!” Or, you can follow the flow of this text and help people
ask questions about the choices they are making and the harvest they are reaping.
Perhaps we could redeem the words of Dr. Phil by asking, “How’s
that workin’ for ya?” Many people today have found the “end
of the rainbow” in our permissive culture and realize there’s no
pot of gold. Holiness answers questions people are asking when they’ve
been duped and disappointed by cultural myths.
(For the full manuscript of this sermon
go to www.preachersmagazine.org and click on “Sermons”)
It’s important to treat people like adults when we preach
to them. We can’t water down this text and smooth over the tough parts.
We also can’t browbeat them, using the “holiness or else” strategy.
God always honors free will and gives people choices. We can do the same thing.
It is important to know where you are going as you begin to prepare a sermon.
This sermon should probably be headed to a fork in the road. Give them the
chance to choose honoring God with their bodies.
Testimonies are perhaps the most powerful tool in this area.
It’s getting personal when we talk about sex, eating habits, exercise,
and other self-care issues. The more the preacher points the finger and tries
to sound like the expert, the more people will tune out and keep suffering.
Let’s face it, preachers are not always the best example they could be
in the food department. One might get the impression that sex will send you
to hell, but overeating is a quick path to heaven! Even if you are in top
shape and fully surrendered in all body-related areas, you probably can’t
compete with the powerful testimony of a changed layperson. Use video to give
quick background on a person’s life. Then interview them live, allowing
them to tell how life is different now that they have accepted God’s
plan for our bodies.
Begin with the powerful competing images of our culture. Allow the text to question these truth claims. Find everyday scenarios of defeat and discouragement. If you have a person in your congregation who has overcome addictions through faith in Christ, tell their story as a way of demonstrating what is possible in the power of the Spirit. Next, present a fresh vision of life lived well in Christ. Help people anticipate a future of living God’s way and reaping a more joyous life! Finally, invite them to choose that future, God’s preferred future for their lives!
